Duane Stuart Stadman Smith, 74, of Caldwell, Idaho, a former Baker City resident, died May 1, 2006, at his home.
Cremation is under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel of Caldwell.
Duane was born on March 17, 1932, at Baker City.
So many words come to mind to describe this gentle, caring, witty charismatic cowboy, his family said. He was a husband, dad, grandfather, brother, cousin and friend. He was an artist, rodeo clown, painter, jokester, woodcarver, toy craftsman, animal lover and avid gardener.
“Our best memories of Dad are of growing up in Lovelock, Nev., riding horses, playing with Powder, catching catfish on the Humboldt, shooting down the Red Baron from the sky, eating sweet peas from his garden and eating at the Model T,” his family said.
Duane and his wife, Kaye, made a home for stray cats and loved to garden together.
Duane’s favorite hobby in his later years was with his Caldwell Model Railroad Club. He made many wonderful friendships with his train buddies even though he tried to sabotage and derail their trains! He will be remembered each day when they look at the beautiful scenery background he painted. Duane will be greatly missed by them.
Survivors include his wife, Kaye Heard Smith of Caldwell; his children, Duff Stadman and his fiancee, Lisa, of Spokane, Wash., Dani Sabens and her husband, Doug, of Salem, Ind., Dana Pendergrass and her husband, Randy, of Valleyford, Wash., and Dena Smith of Medical Lake, Wash.; Kaye’s children, Mason Myers and his wife, Becky, of Spring, Texas, and Kitty Leigh Shipman and her husband, Bobby, of Plainview, Texas; 10 grandchildren from his children, Tyrel and Chantell Stadman, Kurtis and Brett Walters/Sabens, Jay, Kassey and Chelsie Pendergrass, Laci and Rhesah Reddig/Smith and Braedenn Smith; and Kaye’s family, Karen Denny, Brian Moore, Gabriella DeMario and Austin and Rilee Myers; sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Butch Vermillion of La Grande; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Theresa Smith of Union; a cousin, JerryLou Gerber of La Grande; six great-grandchildren and one on the way; and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, Basil Stadman; his stepfather, Gordon Smith; his mother, Noreen Smith; and his brother, John Smith.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 5, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor